Description:

Objective:

The Midwest Geological Sequestration Consortium (MGSC) is led by the Illinois State Geological Survey (ISGS). The MGSC has actively been engaged in geologic sequestration research since 2003. In response to the US EPA Funding Opportunity EPA-G2008-STAR-H1, we propose to conduct a 3-year study to accomplish five research tasks. These tasks are designed to leverage the on-going USDOE Phase III deep saline reservoir demonstration. The results of this project should help reduce hydrologic and geochemical uncertainties associated with geologic carbon sequestration in deep, saline reservoirs and thus protect groundwater quality.

Approach:

The first three tasks in this proposal address pressure monitoring in and above the injection reservoir. In the first task, available injection and caprock formation pressures at natural gas storage fields will be complied and analyzed to help define the baseline pressure in the Mt. Simon sandstone in the Illinois Basin. In task 2, the pressure response in the injection reservoir and above its caprock at the proposed Phase III MGSC pilot project will be monitored with the Westbay system, and will be evaluated using analytical and numerical models. This effort may provide the protocols and methodology for applying this type of proactive leakage monitoring technique in conjuction with the Westbay system for commercial-scale CO2 storage projects. In the third task, basin-scale, flow and transport models of the Mt. Simon sandstone will be developed to predict potential impacts of multiple future geologic commercial-scale carbon sequestration projects. These models will be used to guide future data collection efforts and to design monitoring strategies to protect USDWs within the basin. All of these efforts would be applicable to similar caprock and injection reservoirs throughout the Unites States. The purpose of the fourth task is to conduct laboratory interaction studies using high-pressure, high-temperature reaction vessels to identify the reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and solid-phase products that are likely occur in saline sandstone reservoirs with siltstone caprocks. These gas-vapor-rock batch experiments will be conducted using available and MGSC-obtained core samples. In the fifth task, we propose to collect baseline data for discharge estimates and geologic sources of saline groundwater for the Illinois Basin. These baseline data could be used to differentiate natural brine seeps versus brine that has been displaced by carbon dioxide sequestration.

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.